Yahoo Web Search

Search results

1. Dictionary

   desperate

   /ˈdɛsp(ə)rət/

   adjective

   • 1. feeling or showing a hopeless sense that a situation is so bad as to be impossible to deal with: "a desperate sadness enveloped Ruth" Similar despairinghopelessanguisheddistressedin despairsuicidalmiserablewretcheddesolateforlorndishearteneddiscourageddemoralizeddevastateddowncastresigneddefeatistpessimisticdistraughtfraughtovercomeout of one's mindat one's wits' endbeside oneselfat the end of one's tetherliterary:dolorousOpposite cheerfulcomposed
   • ▪ (of an act) tried in despair or when everything else has failed: "drugs used in a desperate attempt to save his life" Similar last-ditchlast-chancelast-resortlast-minutelast-gaspeleventh-hourall-outdo-or-diefinalfranticfrenziedwildstrainingfutilehopelessdoomedlost
   • ▪ (of a situation) extremely serious or dangerous: "there is a desperate shortage of teachers" Similar graveseriousdangerousriskyperiloushazardousprecariouscriticalacutedirevery badcalamitousappallingawfulterriblefrightfuldreadfuloutrageousintolerabledeplorablelamentablesorrypoorhopelessirretrievableinformal:lousychronicarchaic, humorous:parlousurgentpressingcompellingcryingacutecriticalcrucialvitaldrasticseriousgravedireextremegreatformal:exigent
   • ▪ (of a person) violent or dangerous: "a desperate criminal" Similar violentdangerouslawlessrecklessrashhastyimpetuousfoolhardyincautiousdeath-or-glorydo-or-diehazardousrisky
   • ▪ very bad: informal Irish "that beer's desperate—it's a wonder you've the nerve to offer it for sale"
   • 2. (of a person) having a great need or desire for something: "I am desperate for a cigarette" Similar in great need ofurgently requiringcravingin want oflackingwantingeagerachinglongingyearninghungrythirstythirstingitchingcrying outdesirousinformal:dying

   Word Origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘in despair’): from Latin desperatus ‘deprived of hope’, past participle of desperare (see despair).

   Derivatives

   • 1. desperateness noun

   Scrabble Points: 12

   • D

     2

   • E

     1

   • S

     1

   • P

     3

   • E

     1

   • R

     1

   • A

     1

   • T

     1

   • E

     1

   Powered by Oxford Dictionaries

   More definitions, origin and scrabble points

2. dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › englishDESPERATE | English meaning - Cambridge Dictionary

   dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › english

   • Cached

   Desperate means very serious or bad, very great or extreme, or needing or wanting something very much. It can also mean feeling no hope and ready to do anything to change a bad situation, or willing to be violent and dangerous.

3. www.merriam-webster.com › dictionary › desperateDesperate Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster

   www.merriam-webster.com › dictionary › desperate

   • Cached

   Learn the meaning of desperate, an adjective that describes someone or something that has lost hope, is in extreme danger, or acts recklessly. See synonyms, examples, word history, and related articles.

4. www.collinsdictionary.com › dictionary › englishDESPERATE definition and meaning | Collins English Dictionary

   www.collinsdictionary.com › dictionary › english

   • Cached

   Learn the meaning of desperate as an adjective to describe a bad situation, a strong need, or a reckless action. See synonyms, pronunciation, examples, and word origin of desperate.

5. www.dictionary.com › browse › desperateDESPERATE Definition & Meaning | Dictionary.com

   www.dictionary.com › browse › desperate

   • Cached

   Desperate definition: reckless or dangerous because of despair, hopelessness, or urgency. See examples of DESPERATE used in a sentence.

6. www.vocabulary.com › dictionary › desperateDesperate - Definition, Meaning & Synonyms | Vocabulary.com

   www.vocabulary.com › dictionary › desperate

   Desperate means "having lost all hope." If you are desperate for food, it means you are starving, possibly about to die. If you are in a desperate situation, it means things are really, really bad.

7. dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › learner-englishDESPERATE | meaning - Cambridge Learner's Dictionary

   dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › learner-english

   • Cached

   Desperate means feeling that you have no hope, needing or wanting something very much, or being in a very bad situation. Learn how to use this adjective with examples and translations in different languages.

8. www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › english › desperatedesperate adjective - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and...

   www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › english › desperate

   • Cached

   feeling or showing that you have little hope and are ready to do anything without worrying about danger to yourself or others. The prisoners grew increasingly desperate. Stores are getting desperate after two years of poor sales. Somewhere out there was a desperate man, cold, hungry, hunted.